Reformed Churches in Grand Rapids

a historical overview

These maps chart the growth of the various Reformed denominations in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Red dots show Reformed Church in America (RCA) congregations, blue dots show Christian Reformed Church (CRC) congregations, purple dots show Protestant Reformed (PRC) congregations, and green dots show other churches in the Dutch Reformed tradition.

To minimize extraneous information, the map does not show streets, railroads, or city limits. Only the Grand River and the church locations are shown. Years shown are year of organization for the church. The bullet lists indicate new congregations.

You can click on any map to see a larger version. (You'll need to use your browser's back button to return to this page.)

This period witnessed two new trends: suburban exodust (helped by the GI Bill) and white flight from the inner city to the suburbs.

1945 There were very few changes during the war. Seymour CRC moved to 840 Alger SE. Four new congregations were organized, three along Kalamazoo Avenue. Hope Reformed (1942), 2010 Kalamazoo Ave SE Boston Square CRC (1942), 1603 Kalamazoo Ave SE Southeast PRC (1944), 1701 Kalamazoo Ave SE Free Reformed (1944), 946 Ball NE

1950 Although no congregations moved, five new churches were begun between the war and 1950. Calvin CRC (1946), Calvin College, 1335 Franklin St SE Faith Reformed (1947), 2822 Woodward Ave SW Olivet Reformed (1948), 3085 Wallace SW Immanuel CRC (1948), 33 Elwell St SW Highland Hills CRC (1950), 1015 Westend Ave NW

1955 Relocations include Central RCA to 10 College NE, First Netherland Reformed to 540 Crescent NE, Fourth RCA to 1226 Union NE, Seventh RCA to 950 Leonard NW, Grandville Ave. CRC to 811 Chicago Dr. SW, Dennis Ave. CRC (renamed Mayfair) to 1740 Lyon NE, First PRC to 755 Fuller SE, Richmond RCA to 1814 Walker NW, Godwin Hts. CRC to 225 32nd SW, Boston Sq. CRC to 1803 Kalamazoo SE, Calvin CRC to 700 Ethel SE, and Faith RCA to 618 32nd SW. Everglade Reformed (1951), 940 Everglade SE Plymouth Heights CRC (1951), 1800 Plymouth Ave SE Standale Reformed (1952), 4261 Schoolcraft SW Alger Park CRC (1952), 2655 Eastern Ave SE Cascade CRC (1952), 6655 Cascade Road SE Riverside CRC (1953), 604 Comstock Blvd NE Beverly CRC (1953), 1854 Porter SW, separated from Southwest PRC 36th Street CRC (1953), 1265 36th Street SW Zion Reformed (1954), 4457 36th St SW Millbrook CRC (1954), 3661 Poinsettia SE American Reformed (1955), Calvin College, 1331 Franklin St SE

1960 Fifth Reformed moved from Grandville Ave. to 2012 Griggs SE, Southwest PRC to 1854 Porter SW, Southeast PRC to 1535 Cambridge SE, Standale Reformed to 202 Cummings NW, Beverly CRC to 2019 Porter SW, and the American Reformed Church to 858 Grandville Ave. Remembrance Reformed (1956), 191 Maplerow Ave NW Unity Reformed (1956), 4450 Poinsettia Ave SE Newhall Reformed (1956), 3746 Byron Ctr SW Forest Hills Reformed (1957), 4623 Ada Dr Oakview Reformed (1957), 3864 Benjamin Ave NE Arcadia CRC (1958), 1414 Four Mile Road NW Rogers Heights CRC (1958), 1219 Buckingham St SW Brookside CRC (1959), 3600 Kalamazoo Ave SE Calvary CRC (1959), 1585 36th St SW Pleasant Hill Reformed (1960), 527 Church Pl SW Faith CRC (1960), 1701 Kalamazoo Ave SE

1965 Broadway CRC becomes Westview and moves to 2929 Leonard NW, Coldbrook CRC becomes Beckwith Hills at 2100 Chelsea NE. Oakdale Park CRC moves to 1313 East Butler SE, Grace Reformed to 3300 Burlingame SW, Hope PRC to 1580 Ferndale SW, Arcadia CRC to 3601 Plainfield NW, Rogers Heights CRC to 3025 Michael SW, and Calvary CRC to 3500 Byron Center SW. Creston PRC closes. This map shows the greatest concentration of churches. By 1970, several closed or moved beyond the mapped area. Shawnee Park CRC, Calvin Seminary, 3233 Burton SE Ideal Park CRC, 320 56th SW Grace CRC, 100 Buckley SE Princeton CRC, 5330 Kalamazoo Ave SE Ivanrest CRC, 3777 Ivanrest SW

1970 Franklin Street CRC and Pleasant Hill Reformed, both in Roosevelt Park, close. Third Reformed moves to 2060 Michigan NE, Knapp Street Reformed to 4025 Knapp NE, Oakview Reformed to 4242 Plainfield NE, and Shawnee Park CRC to 2255 Tecumseh SE. Bristolwood CRC, 2501 Bristol Ave NW Woodlawn CRC, Calvin College, Burton at East Beltline SE Madison Square CRC, 1164 Lafayetter Ave SE